America Mineiro will be hoping to register only their second league win of the campaign when they host Corinthians on Saturday.
The visitors, meanwhile, head into the encounter four points clear of their forthcoming opponents after eight games of the season.
Match preview
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Having bounced between Brazil's top two divisions in recent years - with three promotions and two relegations in the space of six seasons between 2015 and 2020 - America Mineiro have consolidated their status in Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A by securing successive top-half finishes.
However, even at this early stage of the season, Coelho appear in danger of dropping back down to Serie B after picking up only four points from their opening eight games of the current campaign.
Indeed, six defeats from eight league matches hints at a certain element of fragility that has not been there in more recent years, while their hopes of progressing beyond the group stage in the Copa Sudamericana are hanging on by a thread after losing to Defensa y Justicia in their last match in that competition.
Vagner Mancini's side did at least advance to the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil by beating Interancional on penalties on Wednesday, with Juninho's 77th-minute goal keeping his side in the tie after drawing 3-3 on aggregate across two legs.
The 56-year-old, who managed Corinthians between October 2020 and May 2021, will be aware that he needs to deliver positive results in the league sooner rather than later if he is to hold onto his job, starting with America MG's match against his former club this weekend.
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Likewise, Corinthians have suffered a dip in standards themselves after finishing fourth last time out, on top of reaching the Copa do Brasil final as well as the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores.
After losing two of their opening three league matches of the season, Vanderlei Luxemburgo was drafted in for his third managerial spell at the club last month, having previously led Time do Povo in 1998 and 2001.
Luxemburgo went on to manage Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2005, and was most recently in charge of Cruzeiro, but this is the 71-year-old's first job in almost 18 months and he appears to have a serious challenge on his hands.
However, after failing to win any of his opening seven games in all competitions, Corinthians have looked more like themselves in recent outings by defeating Fluminense and Atletico Mineiro both by the solid scoreline of 2-0. As a result, they have moved outside of the relegation zone and advanced to the last eight of Brazil's domestic cup.
Although they appear to be a long way away from winning the club's eighth Serie A title, there remains plenty of time for Luxemburgo to steer this famous ship around and propel Corinthians back into the top half of the table, but they need to put points on the board quickly if they are to avoid losing touch with the upper reaches of the table.
Team News
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America Mineiro appear set to remain without Dada Belmonte and Adyson due to groin and ankle issues respectively, while Matheusinho is sidelined with a serious virus at present.
Juninho will be hoping to hold onto his starting berth having scored a crucial goal in the cup during midweek, but Mancini may revert to the same starting XI that held its own for the most part despite falling to a 2-0 defeat to runaway league leaders Botafogo.
Corinthians, meanwhile, will travel without Paulinho, Victor Cantillo and Gustavo Silva due to injuries, with Luxemburgo unlikely to make any changes to the side that dispatched Fluminense last weekend.
Roger Guedes should be full of confidence after bagging a brace during that encounter, and he appears set to lead the line alongside hot prospect Yuri Alberto.
America Mineiro possible starting lineup:
Pasinato; Marcinho, Wanderson, Maidana, Avelar; Evaraldo, Lemos, Kal, Martinez, Azevedo; Junior
Corinthians possible starting lineup:
Cassio; Mendez, Gil, Murillo, Bidu; Adson, Vera, Roni, Maycon; Alberto, Guedes
We say: America Mineiro 1-3 Corinthians
Corinthians appear to have recovered from their dreadful start to the season, and there is little doubt that they have far more offensive firepower at their disposal than their forthcoming opponents.
America Mineiro could find themselves bottom of the table should Coritiba avoid defeat and they lose this game, which is what we expect to happen.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Brett Curtis
